Thank you so much to everyone who gave so generously to our Easter appeal earlier this year.
Thanks to your kindness, we have been able to fund a new community vet team in Egypt, led by Dr Ahmed, with vital hoof care provided by Ali, our farrier.
This team is now bringing much-needed care to working donkeys and horses in rural communities in the Aswan region, where many animals have little or no access to veterinary treatment.
Your support is already making a real difference. Recently, Dr Ahmed and Ali visited four villages, helping animals who desperately needed their care.
I hope you’ll feel proud to see what you’ve made possible.
Update from our community vet team in Egypt
During their visits, the team found many working donkeys in urgent need of care. Some were underweight and weak. Others had painful wounds, hoof problems, or eye conditions made worse by flies and irritation.
The team dewormed every donkey they examined, helping to tackle internal parasites that can leave animals weak, undernourished and vulnerable to further illness.
They also cleaned and dressed wounds, treated painful hoof problems and distributed fly masks to help protect animals from constant irritation around the eyes and open wounds.
As owners waited patiently with their donkeys and horses to see our community vet team, the need for this vital care is clear.
In hot and dusty places, flies are more than a nuisance. They can quickly make existing injuries worse and lead to serious complications.
One painful fly-related condition, called habronemiasis, often affects wounds and sensitive areas around the eyes. Treatment includes carefully cleaning and dressing the affected areas, as well as flushing the tear ducts to help relieve irritation and support recovery.
Flies and their larvae can cause painful conditions such as habronemiasis
One horse was suffering from severe lameness caused by thrush, a painful infection of the hoof.
The team carefully cleaned the hoof, removing dead and infected tissue, treating the area and applied a protective bandage. Encouragingly, the owner has already reported that the horse is improving and seems much more comfortable. Dr Ahmed will continue to monitor the horse until he has fully recovered.
This horse had a painful thrush infection in his hoof. Dr Ahmed treated the infection and, soon afterwards, the horse was already much more comfortable.
Another serious case involved a donkey suffering from tetanus after a puncture wound to the hoof. Tetanus is a life-threatening disease that affects the nervous system. The donkey was also severely dehydrated.
The team set to work providing fluid therapy, alongside anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain, and a course of antibiotics. The owner was advised to keep the donkey in a quiet, calm environment while he recovers.
Tetanus can be life-threatening. Prompt vet treatment is vital. Thankfully our team – funded by your support – was there to help.
This work helping working equines is only possible with your support.
Thank you ♥️♥️
Your support helps us fund our vet teams in Gaza, the West Bank, and Egypt, bringing vital veterinary treatment directly to working donkeys, mules and horses in desperate need. You are also caring for rescue donkeys at our sanctuaries in Israel and the West Bank, where they receive nutritious food, specialist care, and the safety of a forever home.
Thank you for caring for these gentle animals.
This donkey – in desperate need of vet treatment – is just one of the animals you’ve helped to support in recent weeks. Thank you.